Lion Stout

Brewed by Lion Brewery (Sri Lanka)
Style: Foreign Stout
Biyagama, Sri Lanka

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

UPDATED: APR 3, 2010 $3.50 / 625ML bottle - I can’t think of any better value out there as I rate this. There is no other $3.50 bomb I can think of that delivers so much flavor and satisfaction. Lion Stout is a beautifully roasted stout that taste much more expensive than it is. Well executed and I’m not backing down from a 3.9 rating on this one.

Bottle. Moderate aromas of burnt, bitter chocolate, strong coffee and resin, light note of earth, and background notes of raisin, tar, solvent, milk, dark rum and a faint hint of licorice. Head starts average size, frothy, light brown with some fair slippery lacing and is mostly diminishing. Color is dark brown, almost black. Flavor starts lightly sweet and moderately acidic, then finishes lightly sweet and acidic, moderately bitter and has a hint of smokiness. Palate is medium bodied, with a watery texture, a lively carbonation and a dry finish. A pretty tasty and complex Foreign Stout. I didn’t get the hype though. I think it’s a goof how they still keep Micheal Jackson’s quote and picture on the back label of their bottle. Maybe that’s why the hype continues.

10/03 0.33 l bottle from Bier-Spezialitäten-Laden, shared with Doggythedog. It poured dark brown, almost black body with medium to bigger brown head. Strong stout nose, coffee, caramel, chocolate and dark fruits. Touch of alcohol as well. Coffee, licorice, chocolate and some slight herbal hops are felt in the flavor. Sweetish, full bodied and robust. Long nice coffee and chocolate finish with some strange paper note at the end. No matter, it’s a great strong stout.

330 ml bottle. Dark body with a nice reddish brown head. Aroma is smooth, light roasted malt with a little hint of liquorices. Flavor is sweet, roasted malt, with just a little touch of acidity, making a fine balance against the sweet malt. Not very bitter, still a fine and balanced brew. Rather quaffable.

12 oz bottle compliments of darn1207 who was cool enough to put one aside during this years St Pats acknowledgment. Ink-black pour with attractive 1/2 ovalteen head, settling in the time I’ve written this to pencil thin. Dave Frishberg’s ’Where you at?’ in the background as I take my first sip... Great nose before beautiful creamy mouthfeel. A bit too cold still, but initial taste impressive. Malty yet exquisitely balanced. Dry. Aftertaste trails a little metallic flat, but that’s just another excuse for another sip. As it warms, alcohol more apparent (i guess duh). Liking this beer. Track three: ’You say you care’ -- this guy swings his ass off. Picking up now sour cherry -- wasn’t expecting that. Really dry -- moreso than any other stout I can remember.

Dark brown with a thin medium brown head. Nose is sweet and malty, especially for a stout. Flavor is a balance of roasted malt with earthy bitterness, with a medium, pleasant coffee/ dark chocolate finish. Great stout.

330 ml bottle from the LCBO. Labled Sinha Stout. The lable also states an 8.8% abv. Pours black, with a dark tan head that leaves great lacing. Fruity aroma, cherries and raisin. Nice chocolate and coffee flavours, but more subdude than I expected. Also a bit thinner in body than I expected as well, but still a nice stout.

Ecco la famigerata/famosa stout cui Michael Jackson ha lasciato la sua faccia! è in effetti un’ottima birra - molto meglio di quanto mi aspettassi; uno spettacolo a vedersi e anche piuttosto gustosa.